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Hawkesbury is quietly engineering one of the region’s most powerful movements for social cohesion, safety, and connection, and it’s happening from the ground up.
What began as a single Facebook group has grown into a vibrant, community-driven network now spanning five local government areas Hawkesbury, Nepean, Blacktown, The Hills, and Macarthur. The network is becoming a blueprint for how communities can build their own social support structures, one conversation, meet-up and shared story at a time.
Initially founded by local community worker, Jye Bryant, each group was carefully set up with a clear structure, purpose, and safeguarding framework before being handed over to local residents.
“I wanted to build something that belonged to the community not to me,” Bryant said. “The idea was always to hand over the keys. Local people know what their local Pride should look like.”
The story began with Nepean Pride, launched just over a year ago. What followed surprised even its founder. The group has now grown to almost 800 members, transforming into a bustling hub of activities that reflect the creativity and diversity of Western Sydney’s LGBTIQA+ communities.
Members take part in everything from dog-walking meetups and a community choir to queer meditation sessions, and craft circles. There are kickball games, games nights, and an open-table social dinner tradition that regularly introduces neighbours who might never have met otherwise.
But beyond the fun lies something profoundly important: safety, visibility, and support. The network hosts suicide prevention workshops, trans and gender diverse support groups, and a dedicated support group for parents and families of trans people. The Open Door Church offers a spiritual home for those who have struggled to find one elsewhere. During IDAHOBIT, the groups rally together to raise awareness and celebrate pride across the region.
“These groups aren’t just about social events,” Bryant explained. “They’re about showing people that they are seen, valued and not alone and that Western Sydney is capable of leading its own solutions.”
Those interested in joining the movement can connect via the Hawkesbury Pride Facebook page or email westernsydneypridenetwork@gmail.com.
In a time when social cohesion is front-page news, Western Sydney isn’t waiting for solutions. It’s building them.
